A few minutes from Haddington town centre is the recently and remarkably restored, very fine C14 church of St Mary. Of cathedral proportions, it lies in a beautiful setting by the little River Tyne and near the old stone Nungate Bridge. Wide, sunny and grassy banks and the adjacent St Mary's Pleasance Garden make wonderful picnic settings. There is also the nearby Peter Potter Art Gallery and Cafe, and other eateries not far away.

St Mary's waswar-torn in the C16 century during the 18 month Siege of Haddington. With only enough money to repair the nave, the rest of the church was left roofless (choir, transepts, tower). Much stonework was taken away but the remaining ruins were stabilised in the last century.

To house growing congregations, the nave has had many makeovers over the past 400yrs; raised arches and a lowered floor (C12 cemetery found beneath!) allowed enough height for lofts and galleries. Later donations of many excellent stained glass windows were donated in the C19 to the the mid C20.

At last, in the 1970s, with much fundraising and sponsorships, it was possible to restore the old ruins. So once again St Mary's is the longest parish church in Scotland. It has kept many original pre-reformation features - see the medieval carvings inside and out (some close-up photos) and the excavated old town crest with goats and grapes. Otherwise there was much recycling used in the rebuilding; extra matching stone from Edinburgh's closed Caledonian Railway Station, a flour mill and a railway bridge; slates from Glasgow's Gorbals; a Burne-Jones stained glass window from Torquay; a peel of 8 bells from a chapel in Aberdeenshire (hung in time to ring in the Millenium); new fibre-glass "stone" vaulting crafted by a Norfolk boatbuilder; and a fine, pipe organ built locally in the Lammermuir Hills. There are graves of Jane Welsh Carlyle and John Brown (C18 Minister of Haddington). The old mediaeval vestry is now the Lauderdale Aisle (an ecumenical chapel built over the Maitland family burial vault).

MUSIC IN ST.MARY'S Wonderful acoustics, that once augmented medieval chantings, now allow excellent recitals/concerts. St Mary's Choir, under the Directorship of Susan Hamilton, sing at most SUNDAY 11am services ; they will be joined on JUNE 28 by the Junior Choristers before their summer break. 2015 Summer Music will be presented by young musicians on Sundays. 5 JULY at 4.00pm - Brighde Chaimbul and Anna Michels - young gifted musicians present a programme of traditional Scottish music on small pipes, whistle, keyboard and fiddle. 29 JULY at 7.30-pm - Aeris Brass- trombone quartet - a promise of an entertaiing, musical and theatrical evening! 9 AUGUST at 4.00pm - Robert Dick's Bach Ensemble with Electra Lochhead soprano; to include Bach's Jauchzet Gott 6 SEPTEMBER at 4.00pm- Vivaldi'sGloria and Purcell'sDido and Aeneas . This final concert is COME and SING with our music director Susan Hamilton or just COME and ENJOY; FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND TO SIGN UP see website www.stmaryskirk.co.ukand Facebook

8 minute walk from Market Street stop; cross road, walk through any alleyway into High Street and turn left and go to end of street and right into Sidegate; continue along until cemetery on LHS behind wrought iron railings; St Mary's is set back along a driveway. Enter by nearest door.

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Date

Access to Public Areas (Displays, exhibits, rides etc)

Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to :

a public toilet

a public toilet suitable for visitors who use a wheelchair

the gift shop

the information point

General

Wheelchairs or other mobility aids provided

These are freely available

Routes / pathways throughout the attraction suitable for visitors with limited mobility

all routes

There is an audible alarm system

Seating available throughout the attraction at appropriate intervals, for visitors with limited mobility

Where appropriate there is a hearing loop system [e.g. ticket counter/ gift shop]

Attraction Entrance

There are steps to the main entrance

Number of steps
5

There is a handrail by the steps

Parking

Parking provided for visitors

Parking on site

With designated parking for visitors with disabilities

Within about 50 metres of the attraction

The route from the parking area to the nearest public entrance is :

flat, ie. without steps

This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.